Feminax Express tablets are a targeted pain killer offering relief from menstrual cramps and associated pain. Each tablet contains the active ingredient Ibuprofen Lysine, which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID).

Feminax Express, although designed to relieve period pain, can also help to effectively relieve other types of pain and fevers, including:

• Headaches
• Backache
• Dental pain
• Muscular pain
• Neuralgia
• Cold and flu

Each box of Feminax Express contains 16 tablets and can be taken every 4 hours by adults and children over the age of 12 years.

Period pains are caused by the shedding of the uterus lining that occurs approximately every month when a woman does not become pregnant. To help the body effectively shed this lining the uterus spasms and cramps which causes pain in the lower abdomen as well as sometimes in the back and legs.

Feminax Express contains the active ingredient Ibuprofen Lysine (NSAID). These NSAIDs help to relieve pain and reduce inflammation by blocking the production of the chemical known as prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are released when the body is damaged or injured and are one of the components responsible for causing you to feel pain.

The effects of Feminax Express can usually be felt within 20 - 30 minutes of taking the recommended dose. Most people will continue to feel relief for around 4 hours.

If your pain is particularly bad and you are unable to manage your discomfort with Feminax Express alone, you can take paracetamol at the same time. Be sure to check you are only taking the recommended dose of each medication.

Feminax Express tablets are suitable for oral use by adults and children over the age of 12 years.

The recommended dose is 1 - 2 tablets with or after food up to every 4 hours. Take a maximum of 6 doses in 24 hours and for a maximum of 10 days.

The active ingredient in each Feminax Express tablet is: Ibuprofen 200 mg (as ibuprofen lysine)

Feminax Express can cause side effects, although not everyone will experience them. The most common side effects are mild and should resolve once treatment is discontinued. These side effects include:

• A headache
• Skin reactions - hives, rash or itching
• Diarrhoea, wind, constipation or vomiting

In rare circumstances, Feminax Express can cause more serious side effects. In this instance, you must seek immediate medical advice. These side effects include:

• Signs of intestinal bleeding - vomiting blood or dark particles resembling coffee grounds, black tarry stools, blood in stools.
• Signs of a serious allergic reaction - asthma, wheezing, shortness of breath, swelling of facial features, rashes, rapid heart rate, collapse.
• A severe skin reaction called DRESS, showing symptoms of skin rash, fever, swelling of lymph nodes, increase of a type of white blood cells called eosinophils
• Stomach ulcer or perforation
• Worsening of bowel problems, e.g. ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease
• Kidney problems, showing symptoms of cloudy urine, more or less urine than usual, blood in urine, pain in the back and/or swelling, very rarely kidney failure
• Liver problems showing symptoms such as yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), pale coloured stools, dark urine
• Blood disorders, showing symptoms such as unexplained/unusual bruising or bleeding, sore throat, mouth ulcers, fever, extreme paleness, weakness, exhaustion
• High blood pressure, heart failure, swelling due to fluid build-up, stroke

Before taking Feminax Express please take the time to read all the information included in the Patient Information Leaflet, which can be located in each box.

Do not take Feminax Express if any of the following apply to you:

• You have (or have had 2 or more episodes of) a stomach ulcer, perforation or bleeding of the stomach
• You are allergic to ibuprofen, to any of the ingredients or to aspirin or other painkillers
• You have severe kidney, heart or liver failure
• You are taking aspirin with a daily dose above 75 mg
• You are in the last 3 months of pregnancy.

• You are elderly
• You have or have suffered from asthma, diabetes, high cholesterol or have allergies
• You have liver or kidney problems
• You have stomach or bowel disorders including Crohn’s disease or a condition known as ulcerative colitis
• You have Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• You have previously had or are at risk of heart problems, high blood pressure or stroke.

You should not take Feminax Express if you are taking any of the following medicines. If you are unsure if Feminax is the right medication for you speak to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Anti-coagulants - aspirin/acetylsalicylic acid, warfarin, ticlopidine
• Medicines that reduce high blood pressure - captopril, atenolol, losartan.
• You are taking two or more NSAID painkillers, including cyclooxygenase-2 selective inhibitors
• Antidepressants called selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) - fluoxetine
• Corticosteroids
• Methotrexate
• Cardiac glycosides - digoxin
• Ciclosporin and tacrolimus
• Mifepristone (NSAIDs should not be used for 12 days after mifepristone)
• Lithium
• Zidovudine
• Quinolone antibiotics - ciprofloxacin